Injured Roos break down as Horne-Francis, Energy cruise

North Melbourne’s horror season has gone from unhealthy to worse, with a litany of accidents topping off a 70-point loss to Port Adelaide at Blundstone Enviornment in Hobart.

Star midfielder Luke Davies-Uniacke (29 disposals, eight clearances) was a shining gentle within the Kangaroos’ 20.15 (135) to 10.5 (65) defeat, however is “impossible” to characteristic subsequent week after struggling a hamstring damage.

“We have got 4 or 5 guys which might be very sore out of the sport,” North coach Alastair Clarkson stated post-match.

Darcy Tucker (hamstring), Flynn Perez (concussion) and Jack Mahony (shoulder) may all be part of Davies-Uniacke on the sidelines, and with North Melbourne slumping to a seventh consecutive loss, the positivity that accompanied their 2-0 begin to the season has all however dissipated.

Whereas Port Adelaide have some damage issues of their very own, with Todd Marshall struggling a concussion early within the match and Charlie Dixon straining a quad at coaching this week, the general image is vibrant for the Energy.

With dynamic younger midfield duo Zak Butters (32 disposals, 12 rating involvements) and Connor Rozee (25 possessions, six clearances) main the best way, the Energy have received six video games in a row.

Whereas the sport went largely to script, the Jason Horne-Francis v Kangaroos sideshow wasn’t practically as fiery as many have been anticipating.

The 2021 No.1 draft choose wasn’t confronted bodily or verbally in his first conflict in opposition to his outdated membership, and warmed into the sport to complete with 15 disposals, 5 tackles and a aim after managing only one handball within the first time period.

“It was a superb day for Jason to get out of the best way in some methods,” Port coach Ken Hinkley stated post-match.

“The primary time you play in opposition to your earlier facet, I believe that is the place you get your likelihood to actually transfer on. Hopefully for Jase now he strikes on to a profession that is going to be lengthy and powerful for Port Adelaide.”

Whereas Horne-Francis had one in all his quieter matches his lookalike Miles Bergman starred, taking six intercept marks and kicking the ball fantastically from the again half to arrange a number of pictures at aim.

He was amongst his facet’s finest within the second time period because the Energy piled on eight objectives to at least one to place any likelihood of an upset to mattress after a fair opening quarter.

With their star forwards on the sidelines, Port shared the load brilliantly, discovering 14 particular person goalkickers.

Jeremy Finlayson slotted three majors from eight pictures, whereas former Cat Francis Evans kicked his first two objectives in Port Adelaide colors and Brynn Teakle kicked the primary of his profession.

Even key defender Tom Jonas bought in on the motion, booting a uncommon aim – the second of his 210-game profession.

Whereas Todd Goldstein (55 hitouts, 24 disposals and 11 clearances) and Nick Larkey (4 objectives) fought valiantly, North have been sloppy when delivering the ball inside 50 and provided little resistance the opposite method, with Port Adelaide often taking the ball from finish to finish with ease.

“The hole between us and Port Adelaide was stark, by way of our ball use,” Clarkson admitted.

So as to add additional insult to damage, Aidan Corr will face MRO scrutiny after being reported for putting Ollie Lord on the jaw in an off-the-ball scuffle.

Port Adelaide have a chance to agency up their top-four credentials with a win over Melbourne at Adelaide Oval subsequent Friday evening.

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